The Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) has called for children’s play areas to be as “safe as necessary, not as safe as possible”, so as to deter youngsters from playing in truly dangerous places such as railway lines.

The message was part of RoSPA’s campaign to promote “exciting but safe” play areas at its Play Safety Conference at Loughborough University on 15 June, which puts forward the idea that a bit of controlled risk when playing makes playgrounds more fun.

After The Big Lottery Fund’s allocation of £124m to develop play provision in the areas that need it most, RoSPA is trying to ensure the money is spent wisely.

David Yearley, RoSPA play safety manager, said: “We need to see exciting and stimulating play areas with high play value. These contribute to the physical and psychological development of the child and discourage children from playing in dangerous places such as railway lines, riverbanks and alongside roads.

“Parents have to accept that children may get hurt while playing – more than 38,000 children are injured seriously enough on UK playgrounds to have to go to hospital. What we must do is try to ensure that those injuries are not too serious.” Details: www.rospa.com

Photo: David Yearley, RoSPA play safety manager, speaking at the Play Safety Conference at Loughborough University